GSM Live: Can Sport Save the World?
Why this matters
Connectivity through globalized sport has brought unity and diplomacy to the world, but are the negatives starting to outweigh the positives?
This event took place on 8/13/2021. For an article recap and access to the full episode, visit here. To stay up to date on upcoming events, sign up for our newsletter.
Sport as a globalized commodity has brought unity and diplomacy throughout the world. It draws humans together from all backgrounds and cultures to compete on a world stage and is dubbed the “universal language,” because it can be shared and played anywhere and at any time.
But along with the benefits come the costs, both literally and metaphorically. From backlash over athlete activism to corruption to increasing financial costs, the balance of weighing the the worth of globalized sport can sometimes be lopsided.
On our August GSM Live, experts discussed where sport globalization is headed and whether our interconnectedness in today’s new world is tipping the scales of sport globalization in the direction of helpful or harmful.
Event Details
Date: Friday, August 13th
Time: 11am - 12:30pm (Pacific) / 2pm - 3:30pm (Eastern)
Show Guests:
Andrés Martinez | Professor of Practice in the Cronkite School at Arizona State University and the Editorial Director of Future Tense, a Washington, D.C.-based ideas journalism partnership between ASU, Slate Magazine, and New America
Lori Okimura | International Technical Official at Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, Executive Board Member of Angel City Sports, and Former Board Chair of USA Volleyball and LAVBC Senior Advisor
Fred Turner | Executive Director at Beyond Sport, creating sustainable change through sport
Moderated by:
Eric Legg | Associate Professor, School of Community Resources and Development, Arizona State University
Monthly Issue
The Risk & Reward of Globalized Sport
Globalization has accelerated since the latter half of the 20th century, making sport a key cultural import. Whether it was a Michael Jordan sneaker or simply a ball and net that helped new communities discover soccer, the United States gave and received sport along with many nations around the world.
It’s unclear if those same silos still exist today. Sport is increasingly a means by which nations interact, and at a higher level of interconnectedness than ever. In what ways is sport's impact being utilized as a tool for development and detriment around the world?
